Image processing device and method, storage medium, and program

Abstract

The present invention relates to an image processing device and method, a storage medium, and a program for performing high-quality enlargement processing. Of input image data, a data buffer 32 holds data of target-pixel neighborhood data necessary for the enlargement processing. A data-position swapping unit 33 swaps the data positions of the target-pixel neighborhood data, as needed. A pixel priority determining unit 34 determines background color or foreground color with respect to each pixel of the target-pixel neighborhood data whose data positions were sapped. A data-selection-flag determining unit 36 determines a data selection flag of the target-pixel neighborhood data, the data selection flag being supplied from the pixel priority determining unit 34 . Based on the data selection flag supplied from the data-selection-flag determining unit 36 , a data selector 37 selects image data to be fit into the position of the target pixel from the target-pixel neighborhood data supplied from the data-position swapping unit 33 . The present invention is applicable to OSD devices.

1. An information processing device for enlarging an image, comprising:
 holding means for holding neighborhood pixels in the image, the neighborhood pixels including a target pixel; 
 dividing means for dividing the target pixel into of sections; 
 discriminating means for discriminating between subject color and background color with respect to each pixel held by the holding means, 
 wherein prior to discriminating between subject color and background color, each of said pixels held by the holding means includes swapped data positions according to position information of each of the plurality of sections of the divided target pixel, 
 wherein the position information of each of the plurality of sections of the divided target pixel indicates one of the plurality of sections of the divided target pixel; 
 first-pattern determining means for determining whether or not an arrangement pattern of the subject color and the background color, the arrangement pattern being obtained based on a result of the discrimination performed by the discriminating means, matches a first pattern for expanding the subject color; 
 second-pattern determining means for determining whether or not an arrangement pattern of the subject color and the background color, the arrangement pattern being obtained based on a result of the discrimination performed by the discriminating means, matches a second pattern for expanding the background color; and 
 selecting means for selecting data to be fit into each of the plurality of sections of the target pixel, divided by the dividing means, from the neighborhood pixels based on results of the determination performed by the first-pattern and second-pattern determining means. 
 
     
     
       2. The information processing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining means for determining whether or not to change a pixel distribution of the neighborhood pixels including the target pixel, the neighborhood pixels being held by the holding means; and 
 data swapping means for changing the pixel distribution of the neighborhood pixels including the target pixel, based on a result of the determination performed by the determining means. 
 
     
     
       3. The information processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the image is a character, and
 each of the first and the second patterns comprises a multi-level pattern determined in accordance with a type of the character. 
 
     
     
       4. The information processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the discriminating means discriminates between the subject color and the foreground color by comparing the target pixel with the neighborhood pixels. 
     
     
       5. An information processing method for an image processing device for enlarging an image, the method comprising:
 a holding step of holding neighborhood pixels in the image, the neighborhood pixels including a target pixel; 
 a dividing step of dividing the target pixel into a plurality of sections; 
 a discriminating step of discriminating between subject color and background color with respect to each pixel held in the holding step, 
 wherein prior to discriminating between subject color and background color, each of said pixels held by the holding means includes swapped data positions according to position information of each of the plurality of sections of the divided target pixel 
 wherein the position information of each of the plurality of sections of the divided target pixel indicates one of the plurality of sections of the divided target pixel; 
 a first-pattern determining step of determining whether or not an arrangement pattern of the subject color and the background color, the arrangement pattern being obtained based on a discrimination result obtained by the processing performed in the discriminating step, matches a first pattern for expanding the subject color; 
 a second-pattern determining step of determining whether or not an arrangement pattern of the subject color and the background color, the arrangement pattern being obtained based on a discrimination result obtained in the processing performed by the discriminating step, matches a second pattern for expanding the background color; and 
 a selecting step of selecting data to be fit into each of the plurality of sections of the target pixel, divided by the processing performed in the dividing step, from the neighborhood pixels based on determination results obtained by the processing performed in the first-pattern and second-pattern determining steps. 
 
     
     
       6. A storage medium on which a non-transitory computer-readable program for causing a computer to perform image processing for an image processing device for enlarging an image is recorded, the program comprising:
 a holding step of holding neighborhood pixels in the image, the neighborhood pixels including a target pixel; 
 a dividing step of dividing the target pixel into a plurality of sections; 
 a discriminating step of discriminating between subject color and background color with respect to each pixel held in the holding step, 
 wherein prior to discriminating between subject color and background color, each of said pixels held by the holding means includes swapped data positions according to position information of each of the plurality of sections of the divided target pixel, 
 wherein the position information of each of the plurality of sections of the divided target pixel indicates one of the plurality of sections of the divided target pixel; 
 a first-pattern determining step of determining whether or not an arrangement pattern of the subject color and the background color, the arrangement pattern being obtained based on a discrimination result obtained by the processing performed in the discriminating step, matches a first pattern for expanding the subject color; 
 a second-pattern determining step of determining whether or not an arrangement pattern of the subject color and the background color, the arrangement pattern being obtained based on a discrimination result obtained in the processing performed by the discriminating step, matches a second pattern for expanding the background color; and 
 a selecting step of selecting data to be fit into each of the plurality of sections of the target pixel, divided by the processing performed in the dividing step, from the neighborhood pixels based on determination results obtained by the processing performed in the first-pattern and second-pattern determining steps. 
 
     
     
       7. A non-transitory program for causing a computer to perform image processing for an image processing device for enlarging an image; the program comprising:
 a holding step of holding neighborhood pixels in the image, the neighborhood pixels including a target pixel; 
 a dividing step of dividing the target pixel into a plurality of sections; 
 a discriminating step of discriminating between subject color and background color with respect to each pixel held in the holding step, 
 wherein prior to discriminating between subject color and background color, each of said pixels held by the holding means includes swapped data positions according to position information of each of the plurality of sections of the divided target pixel, 
 wherein the position information of each of the plurality of sections of the divided target pixel indicates one of the plurality of sections of the divided target pixel; 
 a first-pattern determining step of determining whether or not an arrangement pattern of the subject color and the background color, the arrangement pattern being obtained based on a discrimination result obtained by the processing performed in the discriminating step, matches a first pattern for expanding the subject color; 
 a second-pattern determining step of determining whether or not an arrangement pattern of the subject color and the background color, the arrangement pattern being obtained based on a discrimination result obtained in the processing performed by the discriminating step, matches a second pattern for expanding the background color; and 
 a selecting step of selecting data to be fit into each of the plurality of sections of the target pixel, divided by the processing performed in the dividing step, from the neighborhood pixels based on determination results obtained by the processing performed in the first-pattern and second-pattern determining steps. 
 
     
     
       8. An information processing device for enlarging an image, comprising:
 a holding unit for holding neighborhood pixels in the image, the neighborhood pixels including a target pixel; 
 a dividing unit for dividing the target pixel into a plurality of sections; 
 a discriminating unit for discriminating between subject color and background color with respect to each pixel held by the holding unit, 
 wherein prior to discriminating between subject color and background color, each of said pixels held by the holding unit includes swapped data positions according to position information of each of the plurality of sections of the divided target pixel, 
 wherein the position information of each of the plurality of sections of the divided target pixel indicates one of the plurality of sections of the divided target pixel; 
 a first-pattern determining unit for determining whether or not an arrangement pattern of the subject color and the background color, the arrangement pattern being obtained based on a result of the discrimination performed by the discriminating unit, matches a first pattern for expanding the subject color; 
 a second-pattern determining unit for determining whether or not an arrangement pattern of the subject color and the background color, the arrangement pattern being obtained based on a result of the discrimination performed by the discriminating unit, matches a second pattern for expanding the background color; and 
 a selecting unit for selecting data to be fit into the each of the plurality of sections of target pixel, divided by the dividing unit, from the neighborhood pixels based on results of the determination performed by the first-pattern and second-pattern determining unit. 
 
     
     
       9. The information processing device according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a determining unit for determining whether or not to change a pixel distribution of the neighborhood pixels including the target pixel, the neighborhood pixels being held by the holding unit; and 
 a data swapping unit for changing the pixel distribution of the neighborhood pixels including the target pixel, based on a result of the determination performed by the determining unit. 
 
     
     
       10. The information processing device according to  claim 8 , wherein the image is a character, and
 each of the first and the second patterns comprises a multi-level pattern determined in accordance with a type of the character. 
 
     
     
       11. The information processing device according to  claim 8 , wherein the discriminating unit discriminates between the subject color and the foreground color by comparing the target pixel with the neighborhood pixels.